On Saturday, June 29, Bluegreen Vacations welcomed over 120 esteemed members of the community, celebrities, executives and VIP owners for an exclusive grand opening event in celebration of the brand’s newest property – The Marquee in the heart of New Orleans’ historic theater district. The official opening of the 17-story resort, marks a new era for the city’s new and improved hospitality landscape.
Through interactive guest experiences using augmented reality moments, The Marquee uses the fictional central character, Story Val, to tell the story of the musical and artistic history of New Orleans. The grand opening weekend brought to life the unique aspects of the property using special touches including welcome letters written by The Marquee’s very own Val, activations that highlighted the history of vaudeville, as well as décor and motifs inspired by the property’s one-off design.
Pictured at the gala are from (l-r) Tony Puleo, Famous Rhodes, Jorge de la Osa, Donna Brown, Ada Grzywna, Jason Allison, Kathy Foster, Ray Lopez, Rebecca Mellenthin.
The Marquee Grand Opening weekend started with nearly 75 guests participating at the Bluegreen Vacations-sponsored Habitat for Humanity build in the Lower Ninth Ward, the neighborhood which is still being rebuilt after the devastating effects from Hurricane Katrina in 2014. With pick axes in hand, members of the team helped to rebuild driveways, removing large boulders and rocks, paint interior walls, and put the finishing touches on critical home design for two, new homes in the area.
The evening event was overlaid with the rich culture and delicious cuisine that gives the city its distinctive flavor. The celebration featured a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Bluegreen Vacations’ most innovative property to-date and a congratulatory proclamation given by the City of New Orleans. Attendees enjoyed receiving a custom rhyme from a typewriter poet, vaudeville-style dancers and a performance by Grammy award winning multi-instrumentalist, Judith Hill.
The extravaganza continued with a traditional New Orleans second line parade which took to the streets to mark the grand opening of The Marquee, featuring hypnotic rhythms and lush horns playing in unison. The fête’s culmination took place at the outdoor courtyard with a silent disco and a Beignet truck from world-famous Café Du Monde.
Designed to be a home away from home, The Marquee is the first of its kind for Bluegreen Vacations, incorporating technology to deliver a one-of-a-kind guest experience. Located just steps away from the historic Orpheum and Saenger Theatres, the property features over 90 one, two-and three-bedroom suites, each outfitted with Fender guitars, interactive art on all floors, an owner’s lounge, state-of-the-art sales center, fitness facility, a rooftop dipping pool, and an outdoor entertainment area ideal for an impromptu jam session.
Bluegreen Vacations, www.bluegreenvacations.com